The Traveller.

Southern Cross, Volume 9, Issue 3, 20 April 1901, Page 10

The Traveller.

(By a Rambler.) CENTRE BUSH. In tbe course of my many ramblings I happened to find myself the other day in Centre Bush, and was surprised to note the advance the little township lias made since my last visit. Grain Carting is now in full swing. The Hundred Line is now gravelled out to Wreys Bush road, so that a considerable quantity of grain and other produce that formerly went to Winton is now consigned from Centre Bush. I believe there are at present nearly 5000 bags of grain stacked in the goods shed, there being no trucks available. I was surprised when I heard of the large quantity of grain, flax, rabbits, etc., that is consigned from this station. It is a wonder the Government have not some better accommodation in the shape of a larger shed. This is no doubt, for its size, one of The Busiest Townships in the South Island. With such a fine country within a radius of fifteen miles it cannot fail eventually to develop into a flourishing town. There are in the vicinity four large sawmills, all doing a flourishing trade. Some of the folk in the surrounding district think themselves badly off, and at the present price of grain they undoubtedly are, but they will travel far before they find more productive soil than the beautiful flat which stretches from tbe Lime Hills to Drummond. But I am straying away from my subject. On entering the township the first building that Meets One’s Gaze .is the station, opposite to which is a little store presided over by Mrs Scott —a very healthy-looking old lady. Hext we come to the Presbyterian church, with a few straggling shrubs growing round, and the painter of the building, I am inclined to think, could not have had an eye for the beautiful. There is a weekly service held here by the Rev. Jas. Baird, who has been in the district for over twenty years, also a Christian Endeavour meeting every Wednesday evening, at which Mr James McHaffy is the leading light. We next come to Mr Brown’s residence; he appears to be doing a good business in the saddlery line. Almost adjoining is Mrs Hammond’s restaurant at which I did justice to a good meal. lam of opinion, with many of the residents, that there is A Splendid Opening for a good hotel. 1 strolled across to Mr John Robertson’s Store, where everyone appears to be busy. He is evidently doing a large trade—larger than most people imagine. In course of conversation with Mr Robertson he strongly condemned the credit system, and pointed out the advantage of cash payments, which would enable his customers to purchase at far better advantage than at present. I believe he is thinking of shortly introducing Two Prices at his store —one for cash and the other for credit. On the opposite side of the road is Mr McDonald’s smith’s shop at which there were eight horses waiting to be shod. Mr McDonald was too busy at the time to speak to anyone. I afterwards strolled across to Mr Campbell’s butcher’s shop, and judging by the quantity of meat hanging there (which would do credit even to Dunedin), he must be doing a very large trade. Still further on is Mrs M. Rogers’ store, post office and telephone office. She also appears to be prospering.